Cancer Services

At Calvary North Adelaide Hospital we provide a comprehensive range of cancer services, diagnosis and treatment including surgery and chemotherapy. Our focus is on patient care and helping you through your entire journey to wellness.

Our expert team of Doctors, Nurses and Allied Health Practitioners work with you to decide the best course of treatment and care. Our dedicated team will guide you through every step of your treatment with educational and emotional support.

We work hard to continually improve the care we provide, and ensure access to the most advanced cancer treatment technology.

Our Cancer Care services include:

Kimberley House Day Chemotherapy Unit

The Day Chemotherapy Unit is located in the heritage listed Kimberley House. Treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and supportive care treatments such as blood transfusions.

Patients are able to receive other supportive care treatments, including reflexology, massage and acupuncture. These treatments may assist with the management of symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.

Patients may attend one of the ‘Look Good Feel better’ workshops scheduled at CNAH during the year. Please ask staff for the dates.

Volunteers are present each day to help make your stay with us as comfortable as possible.

Haematology and medical oncology – St Helens Ward

The St Helen Ward is a 26 bed unit. St Helen’s caters for patients with acute medical and chronic illnesses, as well as oncological or haematological malignancy.

The Ward cares for patients at all stages of their cancer journey which includes outpatient advice and patient triage in consultation with our Visiting Medical Officers.

As a unit we are supported by a multidisciplinary team which includes Visiting Medical Officers, Family and Patient Counseling, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Pastoral Care, Volunteers and Mary Potter Hospice.

Cold Cap Therapy

Calvary North Adelaide Hospital offers the Cold Cap Therapy System to patients.

Cold Cap Therapy (or Scalp Cooling) is a simple treatment that can prevent hair loss caused by certain chemotherapy drugs. The use of scalp cooling has proven to be an effective way of combatting chemotherapy induced hair loss.

The dedicated unit for this therapy is located in St Helens Ward.

Multidisciplinary team approach

Our expert team of doctors and nurses work alongside patients to decide the best course of treatment and care.

The expansive team includes medical oncologists, oncology/haematiology nurses, surgeons, infectious disease physician, rehabilitation physicians, a dietitian, and psychologist. Our goal is to see patients through the entirety of their journey – through treatment and back to wellness.

Palliative and end of life care including Mary Potter Hospice and in home care

Mary Potter Hospice

Admission to Mary Potter Hospice is for private patients with life-limiting illnesses whose care-needs require specialist palliative care management. Care is provided by a multi-disciplinary team which is comprised of doctors, nurses, social workers, allied health and pastoral care.

Established in 1976, the Mary Potter Hospice has developed an excellent reputation in palliative care for people with terminal illness through the skilled and dedicated services provided by our doctors, nurses and pastoral care, all of whom are supported by a committed team of volunteers.

The 15 bed unit is comprised of 15 single rooms with ensuites. Each room has outdoor access to garden areas. Two lounge areas and a kitchen is available for visitors. A chapel is open 24 hours a day for prayer or quiet contemplation.

We encourage visitors to our patients and have flexible visiting hours. The number of visitors and time of visiting may be restricted at the discretion of the nursing staff depending upon your clinical requirements and consideration of other patients in the area.
In the best interest of your recovery we encourage you to enjoy our hospital quiet time between 1pm and 2pm each afternoon.

Infectious diseases specialist consultations

Dr Karen Rowland has more than 20 years’ experience in treating complex infections, including infections in people who have cancer. The cancer specialists may refer patients to Dr Rowland for advice and treatment if an infection develops.

Dr Rowland provides inpatient consultations at the Calvary Hospitals in North Adelaide and Wakefield Street.

ICU –RALI clinical pathway

The RALI (Rapid Assessment of Leucodepleted Infection) program is a unique service offered to the Oncology and Haematology patients and Doctors of Calvary North Adelaide. It means in the event of illness you can be directly referred to the ICU for treatment.

Treatments include

Neutropenia

Sepsis

General illness investigation

How does it work?

If you are unwell and meet criteria your treating doctor can refer you to the Intensive Care doctors you will either be directly admitted to the ICU for treatment or to the ward and reviewed by ICU on arrival.

The program has shown great success in the early detection and treatment of infection and has significantly reduced the length of stay for patients, getting them home earlier.

Please talk to your treating physician for more information.

Fast track colonoscopy and endoscopy services

The fast track Colonoscopy and Endoscopy service at Calvary North Adelaide Hospital aims to provide patients without complex symptoms or co morbidity with quick and convenient endoscopy and colonoscopy services without the delay of a specialist consultation.

Outpatient wellness and exercise programs

The RESTORE program is offered at Calvary North Adelaide Hospital, which includes massage offered to patients in the chemotherapy suite.

One-day workshops are held by Adelaide Oncology and Haematology throughout the year, covering supportive care services and topics that our patients have highlighted as being vital to managing their disease, treatment, recovery and life with cancer.

The workshops ensure patients and their family access to accurate and appropriate information on the following topics:

The Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Program is designed to rehabilitate women overcoming breast cancer. The sessions are conducted by a team of health professionals including occupational therapy, nursing, physiotherapy, medical dietetics, psychology and pharmacy. It is a 9 week program.

The Reconditioning Oncology Program is an exercise, behavioural change , social support and medication It is an 8 week program.

Referral to Calvary Rehabilitation Hospital is by General Practitioner, specialists, health care providers or other hospitals between 8am and 5pm. Our physiotherapist will co-ordinate patients’ programs and help with setting achievable goals.

Clinical trials

Clinical Trials at Adelaide Oncology and Haematology

The Clinical Trials unit opened in 2008 at Calvary North Adelaide, and more recently at Calvary Central Districts. Clinical Trials are conducted in conjunction with Calvary Healthcare Adelaide. Up to August 2018, Calvary North Adelaide Hospital in conjunction with AOAH has participated in clinical trials researching new treatments in both medical Oncology (Breast, Colorectal, Brain) and Haematology (Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma).

What is a Clinical Trial?

Clinical trials are research investigations in which people volunteer to test new treatments, interventions or tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage various diseases or medical conditions. Some investigations look at how people respond to a new intervention* and what side effects might occur. This helps to determine if a new intervention works, if it is safe, and if it is better than the interventions that are already available.

Clinical trials might also compare existing interventions, test new ways to use or combine existing interventions or observe how people respond to other factors that might affect their health (such as dietary changes).

The World Health Organization (WHO) definition for a clinical trial is

‘any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes’.

Clinical TrialSafety

Clinical Trials at AOAH are conducted in accordance with International safety standards as defined by the International Conference on Harmonisation- Good Clinical Practice (ICH –GCP). These guidelines advocate for the safety of clinical trial participants, the efficacy of a trial protocol, and the collection of quality of data in the clinical trial setting.

We currently have several trial underway, in Haematology and Medical Oncology.

Referral by specialist or healthcare providers

Calvary North Adelaide Hospital Cancer Services, Kimberley house

24/7 08 8239 9100

Partnerships

Calvary North Adelaide Hospital works with Adelaide Oncology & Haematology, Adelaide Radiotherapy Centre, Radiology SA and Clinpath to give patients access to rapid, no-wait cancer services in the one location.

Adelaide Oncology & Haematology was established in 2008 and is now one of South Australia’s largest private oncology and haematology practices. The practice brings together the expertise of more than 20 doctors to provide specialised cancer treatment to patients in South Australia, including gynaecology oncology and radiotherapy

Adelaide Radiotherapy Centre is the leading provider of radiotherapy services in South Australia and the sole private provider. The practice provides rapid access to specialised Radiation Oncology Consultants, best
practice treatments, advanced techniques and personalised, affordable care.